K2 BASE CAMP & CONCORDIA COUNTRIES VISITED: PAKISTAN TRIP TYPE: Trekking TRIP LEADER: International Leader TRIP GRADE: Strenuous GROUP SIZE: 5 - 10 people TRIP STYLE: Camping NEXT DEPARTURE: 16 Jul 2022 5 Based On 12 Reviews 33 Trees Planted for each Booking KG Carbon Footprint K2 Base Camp and Concordia in Pakistan is one of the world’s great treks. You will see breathtaking scenery of the Karakoram mountains towering over Baltoro glacier. The journey starts with a flight from Islamabad to Skardu in Gilgit Baltistan. From the plane you will see spectacular views of Karakoram including Nanga Parbat. After several nights in Skardu we take jeep transport to the road head of the trek at Askole. Mount K2 at an altitude of 8,611m is the second highest mountain in the world. It is a steep mountain and the climbing routes are technical. The first ascent was in 1954 by an Italian xpeditione following the Abruzzi spur. The trekking route up the Baltoro glacier has superb mountain views all the way up to Concordia. On our walk we will see the Trango Towers, Muztagh Tower, Masherbrum, K2 and Broad Peak among many others. Galen Rowell described Concordia in his book as the “Throne Room of the Mountain Gods”. We camp at Concordia and will see its unique panorama of 7,000m and 8,000m mountains and impressive views of K2. Mitre Peak is the prominent peak near Concordia. To find out more about the challenges of K2 Base Camp trek, you can read our Blog article Everest Base Camp in Nepal versus K2 Base Camp in Pakistan. www.themountaincompany.co.uk PAGE 1 [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)1647 433880 Every year in mid July we organise two groups to K2 Base Camp starting at the same time in Islamabad. The K2 Base Camp & Concordia group will walk back down Baltoro glacier from Concordia. Whereas the K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La group will cross this high pass at an altitude of 5,560m. You will need mountaineering skills to cross this technical pass. REASONS TO CHOOSE US • We are Karakoram trekking specialists having operated trips in Pakistan since 2004. Roland Hunter has designed the itinerary from his first-hand xperiencee of this trek. • The Mountain Company has organised nine successful K2 Base Camp treks. For more information on how these treks went please take a look at our Trip Reports. • We work with some of the best mountain leaders with deep knowledge of trekking in Karakoram. Unlike many other operators we use trained international leaders for this trip. • We have included a gradual ascent profile in our itinerary for this trekking holiday. This will help you acclimatise to the high altitude. • We organise our K2 Base Camp & Concordia trek at the same time as our K2 & Gondogoro La trek. Our international leader will lead both groups on approach to K2 Base Camp. On descent from Concordia this leader will go over Gondogoro La. One of our Pakistan guides will lead the K2 Base Camp group descending Baltoro. The two groups will meet up again at Concordia Motel in Skardu on Day 20. • Our AITO Traveller Reviews for K2 Base Camp and AITO Traveller Reviews for K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La have a holiday rating of 100%. Based on client feedback we won the 2018 Gold Award as AITO Tour Operator of the Year. Read more about our Testimonials and Awards. • We pay for private weather forecasts from EverestWeather.com. We also use in house forecasting throughout the duration of this trek. • We send a Thuraya satellite phone on our group treks in Pakistan. Your leader will have reliable communications for logistics, planning and group safety. We use GPS to upload your location daily on to Google Maps to track your progress during the trek. • We provide a range of tasty meals for breakfast, lunch and supper. For breakfast we provide fresh coffee from our Bialetti Moka coffee machine. • We bring a comprehensive medical aid kit. There will also be a portable altitude chamber (PAC or Gamow bag). • Our team with first hand knowledge of this trek provides pre trip support. WHAT'S INCLUDED • Internal flights. The flights ear Islamabad - Skardu - Islamabad. If cancelled then we will drive on Karakoram Highway. • All internal transport and transfers including airport collections for group flights only. If you are not on the group flights we can arrange airport transfer for an extra charge of GBP65 (US$85 or €75) per transfer. • Twin share rooms at hotels. • Breakfast only in Islamabad, all meals included in Skardu and while on trek. • Twin share tents while on trek. These are three person domed tents with plenty of space for two people sharing plus gear. • Trekking arrangements. Including permits and fees, tents, International and Pakistan guides, porters and cooks. • Porterage. The allowance for your main bag is 15kg. • Weather forecasts from EverestWeather.com. • Thuraya satellite phone for organising logistics and medical evacuations. It can also be also used for personal calls at extra cost. • GPS tracking on Google Maps. Your friends and family can track your progress during the trek. • Rubberised luggage tag posted to you before departure. • Full financial protection. Our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) number is 10921. Our Association of Bonded Travel Operators Trust (ABTOT) membership number is 5365). • Pre departure support and advice from The Mountain Company. We are available by email, phone or face to face meetings WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED • International flight to/from Islamabad. www.themountaincompany.co.uk PAGE 2 [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)1647 433880 • Airport pick up and transfers if not arriving on group flight costing GBP65 (US$85 or €75). • Travel & trekking insurance. • Pakistan visa for 30 days. • Lunch and evening meals in Islamabad. • Personal clothing & equipment, please see Practical Information for kit list. • Tips. Each trekker should budget for giving tips into the group fund. This should be in region of £135, US$175 or €150) • Other items not listed in “What is included”. ITINERARY DAY 1: ARRIVE IN ISLAMABAD (540M) Arrive in Islamabad Sightseeing in Islamabad No meals Hotel Hillview in Islamabad We meet you on arrival at Islamabad airport and drive to the hotel. Please note we only provide complimentary airport pick up for the group flight. The group flight for 2021 trips is on Emirates. If you arrive on a different flight there will be an extra charge for this service. At some point during the day your leader will give the trek briefing and check your gear. The rest of the day is free to explore Islamabad and to pack your bags. You can leave a bag at the hotel with items not needed on trek. DAY 2: FLY TO SKARDU (2,228M), IF CANCELLED DRIVE KKH TO CHILAS (1,265M) 1) Flight to Skardu 2) Bus to Chilas (8 to 9 hours) Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 1) K2 Motel in Skardu 2) Hotel Shangri La in Chilas This morning we take the PIA flight to Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan. If there is a cancellation of this flight then today we will start driving Karakoram Highway (“KKH”). It takes two days to drive KKH and on the way we have one night at the hotel in the town of Chilas. DAY 3: SIGHTSEEING DAY IN SKARDU (2,228M) OR DRIVE KKH TO SKARDU 1) Sightseeing in Skardu 2) Drive to Skardu (7 hours) Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner www.themountaincompany.co.uk PAGE 3 [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)1647 433880 K2 Motel in Skardu If we flew as planned to Skardu on Day 2 then this is a day to explore the town. We walk to the main high street and look around the bazaar. We visit the Skardu fort which has a good view of the Indus river. If we are lucky we could watch a game of polo in the evening. If we started the drive along KKH yesterday then we should arrive at Skardu by mid afternoon. DAY 4: JEEP DRIVE TO ASKOLE (3,048M) Drive by jeep to Askole (6 hours) Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Camping We have a spectacular drive on a winding jeep trail with several steep sections. A short distance from Skardu we cross the Indus river on a bridge near the confluence with the Shigar river. We drive up the wide open Shigar valley passing some larger villages and their fields. Further up at the next river confluence we follow the Braldu river upstream. As we ascend the gorge it gets steeper and more arid. We pass a few villages with green fields from irrigation and shaded by apricot trees. Askole is the last village in this valley at the road head. This is the last village we will see until the end of the trek. The time to drive to Askole depends on the condition of the road which varies year to year. The Braldu section is prone to landslides and these can block the road. The locals are very good drivers and will come up with a solution to clear the road or use jeeps on the other side. DAY 5: TREK TO KOROFONG (3,100M) Walking 11km (4 hours) Walking ascent 250m Walking descent 150m Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Camping The trek starts from Askole by following the main trail to K2 Base Camp. We hike along next to the Braldu river. Once passed the snout of the Biafo glacier we arrive at Korofong. This is a short first day of walking to ease us into the trek and allow time for sorting the porter loads in Askole.